Differential pressure material processing systems, apparatus, methods, and products

Abstract

Differential pressure material processing systems, apparatus, methods, and products are described. An example embodiment of a differential pressure material processing system includes a tank, a holding member, and a sheet of tissue disposed within the holding member. The holding member defines a first holding member chamber and a second holding member chamber. The first holding member chamber has a first pressure when a fluid is disposed within the first holding member chamber. The second holding member chamber has a second pressure when a fluid is disposed within the second holding member chamber. The second pressure is different than the first pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A differential pressure material processing system for processing tissue using a fluid, the system comprising:
 a tank defining a first portion and a second portion; and 
 a holding member comprising a loading member and a clamping member releasably attached to the loading member, the loading member defining a first holding member chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the tank, the clamping member defining a second holding member chamber in fluid communication with the second portion of the tank, the loading member and the clamping member cooperatively defining a passageway in fluid communication with the first holding member chamber and the second holding member chamber, said fluid having a first pressure when disposed within the first portion of the tank and the first holding member chamber, said fluid having a second pressure when disposed within the second portion of the tank and the second holding member chamber, the second pressure being different than the first pressure; 
 wherein said tissue is disposed between the loading member and the clamping member such that a portion of said tissue spans an entire cross-section of the passageway to obstruct the passageway; and 
 wherein the first portion of the tank and the second portion of the tank are separated by a first non-permeable wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir; and
 further comprising a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, the outlet port in fluid communication with the first portion of the tank and the inlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pump has an on state and an off state; and
 wherein the passageway is obstructed by said tissue when the pump is in the on state and the off state. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir is defined by the tank. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loading member defines a perforated support member across the passageway. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loading member defines a support member across the passageway that is moveable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support member is perforated. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loading member includes a first guide member and the clamping member includes a second guide member that mates with the first guide member to prevent movement of the loading member relative to the clamping member along an x-axis and a y-axis during releasable attachment of the clamping member to the loading member. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loading member defines a first portion of the passageway and the clamping member defines a second portion of the passageway such that the first portion of the passageway and the second portion of the passageway cooperatively define the passageway. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping member includes a sealing member that surrounds the second portion of the passageway defined by the clamping member. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pressure transducer in communication with the first holding member chamber. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound transducer in communication with the first holding member chamber. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the holding member is releasably disposed within the tank. 
     
     
       14. A differential pressure material processing system for processing tissue using a fluid, the system comprising:
 a tank defining a first portion and a second portion; 
 a holding member comprising a loading member and a clamping member releasably attached to the loading member, the loading member defining a first holding member chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the tank, the clamping member defining a second holding member chamber in fluid communication with the second portion of the tank, the loading member and the clamping member cooperatively defining a passageway in fluid communication with the first holding member chamber and the second holding member chamber, said fluid having a first pressure when disposed within the first portion of the tank and the first holding member chamber, said fluid having a second pressure when disposed within the second portion of the tank and the second holding member chamber, the second pressure being less than the first pressure; 
 a reservoir; and 
 a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, the outlet port in fluid communication with the first portion of the tank and the inlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
 wherein said tissue is disposed between the loading member and the clamping member such that a portion of said tissue spans an entire cross-section of the passageway to obstruct the passageway; and 
 wherein the first portion of the tank and the second portion of the tank are separated by a first non-permeable wall. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the tank and the first holding member chamber are different; and
 wherein the second portion of the tank and the second holding member chamber are different.